84 -Mr. Home's Account of two Children 
infancy he never stretched out his hand to catch at any thing, 
nor were his eyes directed to^objects placed before him, but 
rolled about in a very unusual manner, although in other 
respects he was a lively child. The eyes were not examined 
till he was six months old, and at that time the cataracts were 
as distinct as when he was received into the hospital. 
Previous to an operation being performed, the following 
circumstances were ascertained respecting his vision. He 
could distinguish light from darkness, and the light of the 
sun from that of a fire or candle : he said it was redder, and 
more pleasant to look at, but lightning made a still stronger 
impression on his eyes. All these different lights he called 
red. The sun appeared to him the size of his hat. The 
candle flame was larger than his finger, and smaller than his 
arm. When he looked at the sun he said it appeared to 
touch his eye. When a lighted candle was placed before him 
both his eyes were directed towards it, and moved together. 
When it was at any nearer distance than 12 inches, he said it 
touched his eyes. When moved further off he said it did not 
touch them ; and at 22 inches it became invisible. 
On the 21st of July the operation of extracting the crys- 
talline lens was performed on the left eye. The capsule of 
the lens was so very strong as to require some force to pene- 
trate it. When wounded, the contents, which were fluid, 
rushed out with great violence. Light became very distressing 
to his eye, and gave him pain. After allowing the eye-lids to 
remain closed for a few minutes, and then opening them, the 
pupil appeared clear, but he could not bear exposure to light. 
On my asking him what he had seen, he said, “your head, which 
